Many Secrets

Summary:It's the summer after New Moon and everything is finally back to normal for Bella and the Cullens (as normal as it can get that is). Atleast it was until one day Bella collapses and then wakes up seeing aura's. Will an old family member of her's be able to sort all this out? And just how many secrets does the Swan family have?

Notes:
All right so lets pretend that that instead of Bella turning down Edwards proposal (would you have? Didnt think so) she agreed. Don't worry you'll find out why later on. Bella and Edward have been spending the first few weeks of summer together to rebuild their relationship as well. I'm not real sure how long this will be but I all ready have a few more chapters done. Without further ado read on!

14. Chapter 14

I honestly had to question the sanity of the vampire in the forest I was fast approaching. Two options, one, the most likely, he was a newborn and therefore had no self-preservation at all, or two, he simply…was completely and entirely stupid. I sighed running a hand over my face and continued walking towards the woods. I reached the outer edge and sensing him nearby I called out

“You can come out now if you like” a large and shadowed figure stepped from the trees and sighed

“You are an idiot, why the hell do I call you my brother? Seriously, we’re nowhere near the same level. If we were human, you would be the nerd, and I’d be in the cool clique.”

“Emmet?” I asked surprised, well I guess it was the second option then.

“Yes it’s me, I again say, you idiot.” He answers coming forward shaking his head.

“What are you doing here? And why I didn’t I recognize your scent?” I asked confused. He rolled his eyes

“Alice the Nazi wanted me to watch over Bella slash test you so she took a piece of everybody’s clothing and put it on me. Like this? This is Carlisle’s.” he said pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket and then staring at it confused “Why would a vampire need a handkerchief? It’s probably because he’s British, he’s weird like that. Anyway, why do we keep Alice around again? She’s really just annoying and makes me want to punch something.” I sigh annoyed at his rambling, and angry at Alice. Did she realize what she did? She seriously scared Bella not to mention worried me. I’m going to have to talk to her, or take Emmett’s advice and just punch a wall. Like her closet wall.

“I’m just starting to agree with your feeling towards Alice.” He chuckled and nodded

“Yea that happens” hearing soft footfalls behind me I turn around while Emmett cranes his neck and laughs. Bella is coming towards us with a…well simply put, a pissed off face.

“What are you doing here Emmett? You scared Edward!” Emmett burst out laughing, well thank-you Bella that helps a man’s ego.

“Ah, don’t worry Eddie, Bella’s a witch now she can protect you” he choked out. Bella rolled her eyes

“I told you Emmett, I’m a not witch.”

“Um…yea you are Bella; you can change the weather and talk to a cat. Heck you can talk to plants, you’re a witch.” She chuckled but asked again

“Seriously though, what are you doing here? I thought you were some crazy vampire after me.”

“Well I’m a vampire and Rose says I’m crazy so technically I guess I am.” He shrugged grinning.

“Apparently Alice sent him here to look after you and to also test me. Honestly I think she is getting too meddlesome, I mean this is a new crazy for her.” I interrupted, annoyed by sisters antics. I loved her but sometimes she got in too deep to her meddling. Bella sighed and ran a hand through her hair then pulled a small cloth bundle from her pocket and said

“So you made me make this for nothing? I just wasted a spice for nothing” she pouted looking at it glumly. I grinned and turning towards her put my arm around her and pointed “I didn’t, Emmett did” she looked up at him and glared, she threw the packet at him and said

“There! Maybe it’ll keep him from coming back, what do you think?” she asked looking up at me smiling slightly. Emmett had caught the bundle and was now inspecting it, holding between the tips of his fingers and looking as though he had caught an alien. He spied Bella suspiciously

“This some sort of freaky voodoo crap?” she laughed and shook her head

“I don’t do that sorta thing Emmett, it’s just Anise, for protection, no clue if it works on vampires but whatever; granted a lot of Anise but still, just a spice.” His expression cleared and he tossed it back to her

“Oh, well either way it smells horrible. So, I guess I better get going now and can go tell Alice you failed your test. Unless you need me here to protect you Eddiekins” he grinned. I bit the inside of my cheek and shook my head

“No, go gloat to Alice, we’ll be fine” he nodded and smiled to Bella, before running off. I turned back to Bella and she rolled her eyes at me

“I think I want to hit something. Does Alice give you that feeling too?” she asked curiously. I laughed and walked with her back to the house exhaling

“All the time”

***

The next day I slipped out of Bella’s bedroom leaving a note behind explaining I would be back soon and ran home. Alice sat Indian style waiting on the porch, a small grin on her pixie face.

“Hello Edward” she waved. I walked up to her and sat down next to her

“So, care to explain what happened last night?” I asked looking over at her. She giggled slightly but turned serious

“Honestly I was doing it for you and Bella’s own good! You don’t think I would do that just to see you embarrassed do you?” I gave her a disbelieving look. She rolled her eyes to the side and chuckled “Ok maybe I would but I really am trying to help this time.”

“And how do you figure that?” I ask. She shifts around so she is leaning against the porch and answers

“To show you that you’re obviously not prepared to fight yet. I mean really, walking right out into the open? Not a smart thing to do Edward, there could have been more waiting for you! They would have ambushed you, and then taken Bella. You should have called us, or taken Bella away to here.”

“I would have smelled multiple vampires Alice” I defended. She cocked an eyebrow

“Would you? Or would you be so worried about Bella that you wouldn’t even care to find out?” I stayed silent. It was embarrassing and uncomfortable but true. Alice smiled and put her hand on my arm

“But that’s why I’m here! See, it was a good thing I did last night…right?” she coaxed. I chuckled and pulled her into a side hug

“Yes, yes, you were right and I was wrong.” She giggled

“Truer words never spoken, but what do you plan to do now?” I let her go and stood up “Just that, make…some sort of plan.”

“Maybe you should go talk to Carlisle…?” she trailed off suggestively a smile poking at the edges of her mouth. I grinned and nodded

“Good idea. But hey, please, no more meddling?” she sighed and rolled her eyes

“If you insist.” I highly doubt the firmness behind that promise. I walked inside as Alice continued to sit on the porch, her large wedding planner binder seemingly appearing out of thin air. I walked up the stairs and down the hall to Carlisle’s study and knocked, a courtesy not really needed but still appreciated.

Come in Edward

I crack the door open and step in. He looks up and smiles pushing his paperwork to the side and asks, his eyes lit with a mischievous glint

“I assume you want to talk about last night?” I let out a puff of air and sit in a chair opposite him

“Does everyone know?”

He nodded. Wonderful.

“Your sister is trying to look out for you, you know that.” He adds gently. I look up at him and reply

“I know that, and I’m ok now. All right at first I was annoyed but that’s Alice. The real reason I wanted to talk to you was to…well to ask for help. I have no idea what to do about this…situation. Obviously it was proven last night that I haven’t a clue but what option do we have? Everyday Victoria’s army could be growing in numbers.” He sighed tiredly and picked up a piece of newspaper beside him and said

“Unfortunately you are correct. More people have gone missing, their getting younger in age too. The police are getting frantic and even federal agents are getting involved. I fear the Volturi will soon hear of this, they could come at any moment. And really don’t need that on top of all this.” I took the newspaper numbly and stared at the bold black letters that ran across the top of the page

‘Five more missing children, between the ages of ten and sixteen’

My head swam. That made eleven totals now and who knew how many she would take. All of this because of my Bella, and eventually, I had to be honest, there would be a fight, a large, brutal, possible deadly, battle. Who was I kidding, of course there would be death, there had to be. I grieved for the families that lost their relatives due to this, and shuddered at the thought of how it started.

“What do we do?” I ask. His eyes flickered to the side

You won’t like what I’m going to suggest

Oh he couldn’t be serious.

“Carlisle, we can’t risk it, its…it’s just too…insane!”

But it could work, it could work immensely well, and you know that Edward…don’t you think he would protect her?

I stifled a jealous growl and casted my eyes back down to the paper. I heard him sigh and say

“There’s nothing left to do Edward, it’s our only choice and it could work!” I resisted the urge to pout and just threw the paper onto his desk.

“It will save Bella Edward.” I stood up and stalked out of his office, sticking my head back in but avoiding his gaze I muttered

“Fine, call the dogs.”

***

I was back at Bella’s house and was waiting for her to come back. I assumed she had gone shopping or something and was sitting in her room waiting for her. I saw the journal that Enid had given her on her nightstand and wavered whether that would be considered delving into her privacy or no. It most likely was but I was honestly too curious to resist. Or at least that’s what I told myself. I snatched the thick book up and opened it gently.

It really was fascinating, all the entries added over the years, the yellow pages fragile and the leather binding frayed from the use. But the most interesting was all the herb uses, it was amazing, really what my Bella could do now. And I think it helped her in a way. She had always said she never connected to anyone before, was withdrawn and too different to ‘fit in’ as she had put it. This gave some sort of outlet I suppose. I looked to the door quickly, hearing a quiet hiss.

Oh for the love of God.

It was the cat.

The same cat that got more attention than me. I think I’ve been around Emmett too long. I stared at it over the top of the journal, slightly amused at its aggressive posture. It hissed again, setting down the journal I rolled my eyes and stood up from the bed.

“There, I’m leaving, damn cat…” I muttered on my way out. As I was walking down the stairs I heard the tell-tale sounds of Bella’s truck pulling up the driveway and quickly went downstairs to the kitchen to meet her. I saw her trying to carry bags in and quickly went out to help her. She looked up from bending inside the truck and rolled her eyes

“I can carry them myself you know, even better than before” I just smiled at her and took three bags for her as she took two. She trudged inside and set down the bags before taking her sweater off. I sat down in a chair observing her as she went about putting items away into their proper place, grinning at the whole…home-maker feel of it.

“So what did you do so badly that you had to leave without kissing me awake first?” she asked over shoulder as she reached to put cans away high on a shelf. I stood up and smirked, taking them and putting them away for her. She rolled her eyes and went to putting things in the fridge

“I went to talk to Carlisle” she stopped abruptly and turned around, blowing hair out of her face that had fallen out of her bun. She narrowed her eyes at me

“About…tactics” She blinked and turned back around rearranging things.

“So…what did you decide on?” she asked cautiously closing the door, but not turning to look at me. I stared at her back, trying to figure out why she seemed so…suspicious. What did she think I would do, go in full throttle, shoot first ask questions later?

“Really?” she asked surprise finally turning to stare at me. I nodded slowly, she grinned brightly

“That’s great! I mean I was nervous that- I mean that’s so awesome!” she ran up and hugged me. I returned it half-heartedly before her pushing her back.

“What were you nervous about?” I asked her confused. She licked her lips nervously and stood up straighter, smiling at me

“Nothing, I’m just glad you decided to let them help” I felt a warm breeze fill the room and reluctantly calmed down. But realized what happened and frowned at her un-amused

“Don’t try any of that on me Bella, really what were you worried about?” she looked down, fidgeting in my arms.

“I was, worried that…that would let this stupid chauvinistic crap get in the way of the important thing” she muttered.

“Excuse me?” I asked. She sighed and slipped out of my grasp, grabbing a hold of the counter.

“I guess just didn’t know if you were going to let the whole Jake thing get in the way.” She said staring at her sneakers. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Was she still on about that?

“Bella” I approached her, pulling her into my chest

“No matter how much I…dislike the idea of Jacob being near you period, I won’t let it get in the way of protecting you. That’s the important thing” she nodded against me. She looked up at me finally and asked the final question